Disclaimer: You've already read it, but still, I make no money of this.

So, chapter two, and we start to get some plot.

:}

The next day, as Tori was getting ready for school, her phone beeped. It was the slap alert, letting her know that one of the people she followed had updated their slap page. She checked, and had posted another picture to his page. Thinking it could be funny, Tori opened it to look. Once again Robbie had chosen to take a selfy of himself in a shirt that looked wrong on him. It was too tight, like when he wore his sisters shirt. However, that shirt was bright and colorful. This shirt was white with black and red Gothic designs showing several anthropomorphic rabbit like objects ready to end their lives in some mass exiguous from this world. It was a band shirt for some off style rock band and Tori knew she'd seen that shirt before. 'I just don't remember where.' Still, it looked ridicules on Robbie, like he was trying to be a rocker. He even had his hands up in that rocker style. Tori decided to leave a comment about how Robbie didn't sell being a bad ass, and focused on getting ready.

By the time Trina had driven them to school, Tori had almost forgotten about the picture. Instead, she became more concerned with her friends apparent distress. The moment she walked into school and saw a couple of her friends, she knew something was wrong.

Towards the center of the entry hall Beck was pacing, agitation seeping from his pores. Next to him Andre was trying to calm him down. None of the others seemed to have arrived yet. Tori immediately focused on Beck, worried about his apparent ire. 'Beck doesn't get angry, let alone this worked up.' She didn't have time to think about where the others might be. Other students were arriving and for whatever reason were lounging in the hall. A quick glance around let tori know they were watching, waiting, keeping an eye on the door as if something big was about to walk through it. Tori noticed that, but focused on Beck, drifting towards where he and Andre were. She caught part of the conversation.

"Calm down. There has to be an explanation for why he's wearing Jade's shirt." Andre was saying. Beck kept pacing and glancing at the door.

"Hi guy's" Tori said, then she stopped and processed what she just heard. 'That's where I saw it before. Jade's likes that band. I think she's one of the few who does.' Tori thought. "What's happ... Why was Robbie in Jade's shirt?"

"I don't know. I don't know why he's in her shirt. A shirt she hasn't worn in the last ten days, and wouldn't share reguardless." Beck said. He looked ready for the next fight, and judging by his level of agitation, this could be the last one he and Jade would have as a couple.

"There has to be a good reason he's in that shirt." Andre said, still trying to play peacemaker.

"Let's look at the facts. It's a small, too small for him. So it's obviously a girls shirt. There aren't too many of that shirt floating about. Jade's friends with the drummer, so she got the shirt from them before they left on tour. It's one of the few ways to get that particular shirt design. So the odds of another shirt like that showing up in Hollywood are pretty slim. The question becomes, how did Robbie, of all people, wind up wearing Jade's shirt?" Beck said. He was clearly building up his anger, waiting for the explanation as to why Jade had let Robbie stretch out one of her favorite shirts.

Around that time Cat arrived earlier then usual, given the distance she has to bike to get to school. That morning, the petite girl looked a little down. She walked to Andre's locker and slumped down in front of it. Her bright clothing no longer reflected her mood, instead she looked like she'd been hurt, emotionally. She started staring at the door, watching for something as she crushed Mister Purple to her chest. She was holding back tears as she waited. It looked like her whole world revolved around whatever she was waiting for, and that seemed to be what the growing crowd was waiting for as well. Tori could only guess it had to do with Cats on again off again crush on Robbie.

Andre's calm exterior was cracking, showing how worried he'd been. It was only exasperated by Cat's arrival and mood. He was trying to stay reasonable, but seemed to know that, whatever happened next, could forever alter the dynamics of their little group of friends. His Eyes glancing to the door, Tori, Cat and Beck, Andre seemed to be focused on calming things down until Jade arrived.

It was a lost cause. Whatever Beck was feeling, it went deeper than just a shirt. Like Cat, he had emotional investment in someone involved in this situation, so the possibility of a rational discussion seemed almost nonexistent. All over a selfie and Jade's shirt.

Tori continued to watch the scene play out, partially because she had no idea what to do. She looked for her sister, and saw that Trina had joined the crowed. The older Vega girl was using the crowds to hide, probably from any misplaced anger that might leak out when the missing members of what Sinjin calls 'the main people' arrive. It also looked like the elder Vega was looking to enjoy a little reality. Even Tori had to admit, from the perspective of someone not involved, Jade's explanation, All the emotion, it was bound to be better than anything on TV.

For a few more minutes, the tension mounted as everyone was standing around, waiting, until finally the door opens and Robbie walked in. Immediately Beck makes a line for the puppeteer, followed by Andre, Tori and Cat. The nerdy boy didn't see them, busying himself with visiting his locker.

"What were you doing wearing Jade's shirt this morning?" Beck confronts Robbie. The Puppeteer turned to see what was wanted. Instantly Beck was in his face. Too close. He tried to step backwards, into his locker, just to give himself some space.

"It was my sisters shirt, I swear it!" Robbie shot back, near panicked.

"Your sister listens to 'Suicidal Bunnies?'" Beck asked, making it clear he probably wouldn't believe anything the other boy said.

"No, she just likes the shirt." Robbie stammered back.

"That was Jade's shirt. Now tell me why you were wearing Jade's shirt. No, scratch that, tell me how you were wearing Jade's shirt." Beck had cornered the smaller boy against his locker. Before Robbie could answer, a murmur ran through the growing crowd. Jade had entered the building.

The students parted, giving her a direct line to her locker. Jade ignored Beck almost throttling Robbie and focused on exchanging books for the morning. It looked like she was just going to disregard the whole thing. Of course, Beck wasn't going to let her. To make matters worse, gossip was already starting to flow in low whispers. Jade was wearing the shirt. That shirt!

"What do you have to say about this?" Beck said, his voice dripping venom.

"Don't get blood on my locker." Jade replied, turning to leave. The crowd closed in, blocking her path, a strangely brave thing for many of them. Jade didn't have time to give them more than a single glare before she was confronted again.

"Jadey, how could you?" Cat screamed, closing the distance between her and the taller girl. The redhead was vibrating. "You knew I kinda liked him, and you went and did, I don't know what you did, but you did it with him." Cat said, starting to cry. The smaller girl stood up to Jade despite the tears, and while neither moved for several seconds, it was clear that Jade had no desire to just push Cat out of her way.

"I didn't do anything with him. And who's him?" Jade said, feeling defensive. She seemed confused by the whole ordeal, and for now seemed willing to keep her temper in check and find out what the whole school was bugging about. "Did you take your special medication today?"

"Jade, please explain to these people that there is nothing between you and Robbie." Andre said, keeping his voice neutral.

"Wai...What?" Jade said, her voice turning dangerous, eyes burning through the musician.

"So you don't deny it?" Cat accused, and Jade's head shot back to stare at the smaller girl. Jade couldn't form a single word to describe what she was feeling. She didn't get the time.

Beck looked up from his phone, the object now in his hand, and addressed his girlfriend. "Please, Jade! We all know you dropped Robbie off this morning. And yesterday, after school, you took him home. Care to explain?" He said. Tori had no idea how he knew she'd dropped Robbie off this morning, but suspected it had something to do with his phone.

"You guys asked me to take him home. He still needed a ride, so I picked him up this morning. I Do one nice thing and what? Everyone's freaking? So what is everyone so janked up about?" Jade shot at Beck.

Beck pulled up the picture of Robbie in her shirt. "This. How is it he is wearing your shirt?" He showed her the picture for another second. "Jade, I know you've been lying about the new house. I know your mother doesn't make that much money, and your father doesn't give her much help. I mean, does he even care about you. Your family? I can even understand needing to make some money. I just didn't think you'd turn to.." He was having trouble finishing his statement.

"What? You think I slept with him? You think I'm a whore?!" Jade's voice was echoing down the halls, and she looked ready to hurt someone. Several onlookers in the crowd decided they didn't need to be in the front row.

"I don't know what to think. I just know you've been lying to us for the longest time. There's no shame in being here on scholarship, Jade. Tori's here on scholarship." Beck said.

"Hay!" Tori said, kinda offended. She didn't like her business being shared, but didn't have time to focus on that.

"But to sell yourself, just to have enough money to fit in. I don't care how much you think you needed the cash." Beck sounded disgusted with her.

"No shame, Tori" Andre started

"I never slept with him!" Jade screamed.

"I'm here on scholarship too." Andre finished, but no one seemed to hear him.

"It's my sisters shirt!" Robbie added, but again, no one seemed to believe him, or Jade. Things were tense, and if something didn't give soon, it could turn violent. That's when it happened, that's when the bell rang.

The bell rang, and the day started. The group broke up reluctantly, not wishing to get the vice principal on their cases again. Just because they were interrupted by the bell didn't mean it was over, not by a long shot. Jade and Beck text fought for the rest of the day, each writing stuff to hurt the other. Rumors starred running through the school, of how Jade's parents didn't have much money, and the gank queen of the school was living a lie trying to have the same stuff as her friends. Jade was outed as one of the poorest students at Hollywood Arts.

Lunch came, and it was time for the group to pick sides. Jade was on her way to their usual table when she was confronted by Cat.

"You knew I liked him! Why did you have to seduce him?" Cat screeched. She was Jade's best friend, and one of the few people who knew how little Jade had in the past. She also knew that Jade's father had taken an interest in her family again, just in the last two years, and that had helped the family immensely. First they moved into a better house, then the recent move. Jade got a car, a better phone, a computer, all the things that came with more income. Now Cat wondered what Jade had done to get these things. Cat didn't like to think Jade could be doing that kind of stuff, but 'maybe her father is her pimp.'

"I'm telling you, I didn't seduce him. I'd never fuck him." Jade said.

"Jade, I want to believe you, I really do, but you don't give me anything to hold onto. I know what I saw, and that was your shirt, the one you're wearing now. So why was he wearing it this morning?" Cat asked. The small girl's hands shook with frustration. Jade looked at her.

"I didn't let him try on my shirt. He says his sister has one just like it. I choose to believe him." Jade said, her voice neutral. Controlled. Cat could tell Jade was acting, using her skills to hide her emotions. The thing is, Jade probably wanted to sound calm, and this wasn't the time to be calm.

Cat almost swung on Jade, but held back. Her anger didn't quite override her sense of self preservation. Instead she went to their regular table and sat down. Beck and Andre were already there, and Tori was coming up with her sister. They took up their seats at the table, while their glares told Jade she wasn't welcome. Not in the mood to push things, Jade sat at another table. Robbie also sat alone, but out of necessity and a shortage of tables was near Jade. Neither wanted to start spreading rumors, but there were only so many places to sit down and have lunch. They couldn't sit far enough away from each other anyways, even if they were in different rooms.

Naturally, more rumors started. Students spent the second half of the day analyzing everything. How close or far the two sat, how often they looked at one another, and anything that might mean something. Rumors spread of an affair, or that Jade was a kept woman, trading sex with Robbie (Or his father, or both) for the money she used for her nicer things. Some people even accused her of "Doing the puppet."

By the end of the day, Jade was done. People could see how angry she was, how she barely controlled herself, and they knew her reputation. They assumed she was looking to take her frustration out on someone, and as a result anyone who might want to hear her side avoided her.

Beck meanwhile, was free with everything Jade had shared with him, stuff she'd only trusted a few people enough to tell her deepest secrets. He talked about how her mother never married, and West was her mothers maiden name. Jade was a bastard. Worse, her father was married to someone else, and could only occasionally help out. The rumors Beck was spreading, tinged with the truth, hurt Jade in ways she never wanted to feel. Deep cuts that would take a long time to heal.

It was obvious to Tori that Beck felt betrayed, and was returning the favor. She felt for him. What she didn't realize was, like so many hurt parties, he had no sense of proportion. He had no idea when he was even, when he'd gone past any resemblance of even, let alone when he inflicted the deepest wounds.

All the while Jade seemed to have nothing to say about it, and just let herself stew in her pain and resentment. For far too many students, this was just the sorted entertainment they had been looking for. Others might have felt sorry for her, but this was the fall of the ice queen, and they couldn't find it in themselves to feel for the girl who once terrified them.

The day ended with more rumors. Jade had promised Robbie a ride home, and when none of their friends was willing to offer him a ride, she reluctantly gave him one. Tori heard what people were saying as the goth led the nerdy boy to her car. Everyone assumed that Jade would at least blow Robbie before he went in that evening. Cat cried, but didn't do a thing to prevent Robbie from riding with Jade. It seemed easier to spread rumors than to try and change the situation.

Tori would, on and off, spend her weekend thinking about what had happened. Jade had fallen from her perch as queen of Hollywood Arts. She'd obviously slept with Robbie, probably for money, and who knows how many others she'd slept with in the past, just to earn some money. The only person Tori knew not jumping on the 'let's hate Jade' bandwagon was Trina.

"This doesn't sound right. I think we're missing something." Trina told Tori on their way home. "Jade would be nicer to Robbie if she was selling sex. That is, unless she's a dominatrix. I'll have to ask mom, I haven't read fifty shade's yet."

Tori rolled her eyes, and switched to more amusing topics. By evening they'd found a party to attend, and were on their way. Tori was careful not to get too drunk or hang out with strangers without someone she knew near by. Strangely it was Trina who'd taught her how to survive parties. The elder sister wasn't anxious to get pregnant and have her career derailed any more than Tori was. As much as she loved her friends, they didn't understand her situation. Jade had always been at parties with Beck, Cat only went with Jade near by, and the guys had no clue about being a girl at a party. Tori had wondered what they could have taught her if they could have gotten pregnant.

Tori stuck up a conversation with a couple of other students she knew from Hollywood Arts. They were part of what Jade called the 'really not that attractive' majority of the students that attended the performing arts school, but Tori felt someone should spend some time with them. It wouldn't do for them to feel any more worthless than they do now. It was also a good way to pass the time without making any commitments.

The party was going fine until Jade arrived. She wasn't there long before she got into a fight. She went at it with a group of Nothridge girls. It took the threat of police involvement, but they ejected Jade from the party after the fight. After Jade had left, the gossip around the party made it very clear that no one had wanted her there in the first place. As for the girls Jade had fought, Tori noticed were the same group she herself had fought in Becks car that one time when she was bumming rides from her friends. Jade, however, had done a far better job against them. One of the girls had to be helped home, and might need to go to the hospital. The fight, along with everything else that was happening, helped Tori make up her mind. She had to do something about Beck.

On the way home from the party, Tori spoke to Trina. "Treen, I need you to promise not to freak out if I start dating Beck."

"No can do, little sister. I'm not letting you date Beck until he's over the whole 'betrayed by Jade' thing." Trina said, driving them home. She had to drop off Andre, who was drunk, before going home.

"You just want Beck for yourself." Tori accused.

"Doesn't matter. Beck is looking to get even. First girl he dates is going to be for sex. I'll bet he slept with at least one girl at that party. I don't want to be his rebound, and neither should you. Once he's had a chance to get over her, then all bets are off. Got that, little sister." Trina said.

"And what makes you think you know so much?" Tori asked.

"I listen when I peer counsel." Trina said.

"You're a peer counselor?" Tori was stunned. Her sister was so self centered.

"Yep. It's a great way to stay up on all the latest gossip. Unfortunately, I had to get trained, learn the rules, and now I know stuff I'd love to tell, but can't. I also learned what fucked up lives people live. But I can't stop. I owe doing a good job to my friend Tiffany. She's the one who taught me how to avoid getting raped at parties. Too bad she didn't listen to her own advice." Trina said, just for a second missing her first friend at Hollywood arts. Or rather, the peer counselor who got her through her first year at the school. Tori didn't know the details, just that Tiffany had graduated, and was the mother of twins.

'How did I not notice she did peer counseling?' Tori wondered briefly. Then she shook her head to focus on her current issue, and asked "So I should wait for Beck to get over Jade?"

"Just don't be a conquest. Date someone who wants to date. Beck will be there before you know it." Trina said. "I still think somethings off with the whole Jade thing."

"And I still think it's weird that someone who seems to know as much about boys as you claim to is dating a romance novel." Tori said.

"Amanda Rothschild understands pain, and may be the only woman alive I'd have an affair with. She's just so deep." Trina said. Tori laughed. That had to be the weirdest thing she'd ever heard her sister say. "Don't laugh yet. From what I've read, she has to be great in bed."

Tori was left to try and sleep with that image, the image of some middle aged woman getting to second with her sister, stuck in her head.

:}

It didn't flow the way I wanted it to, but I'm still happy with it. I know there were so me Olympic level conclusion leaping involved in this chapter. Not saying if they were right or wrong, just it happens. People leap to some amazing conclusions with minimal evidence. But, Jade's poor, or was, and her mother was the other woman for her father.

Too the person who said it was boring, I hope this ads a little excitement. I'd original written it with two car chaises and fifteen explosions, but that didn't fit the plot.

So review, let me know what you think. I'll tell you, things will get worse before they get better, and jade may act a little OOC before it's done. I'll explain later, after I don't have too.;